Liquid-vending machine



I. S. SAM'UELSON. LIQUID vENDlNG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 1AN.26,'1920.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mum unam Lim l NI LJLA ERRY Unirse stares .IULIUs s. sAMUELsoN, or DULUTiI, MINNESOTA.

- IJIQUID-VENIDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5,1921.

Application filed January 26, 1920. SerialNo. 353,938.

T o all whom it may con cem.

Be it known that I, J ULi'Us S. SAMUELsoN, a citizen of the United Sta-tes, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State vof Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Liquid-Vending Machines, of whichfthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to liquid vending devices and has special reference to such a device for dispensing various forms of beverage and one that is opera-ted automatically by a coin.

The principalobject is to provide a simple and practical device of this character.

Other objects and advantages of the pecu. liar construction will appeal-'in the further' description of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings vforming part of this application:

Figure 1 -is a vertical sectional view through one unit of the device showing portions thereof in perspective.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rotating disk which controls the operation of the drinking cup table.

Fig. 3 is a plan view partly broken away of the completely assembled machine, except that the beverage supply bottles are removed.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a portion of the mechanism above the upper deck, and

Fig. 'is a fragmental side elevation of the coin'conduit and its cooperative parts.

In the drawings I have illustrated what might be termed a double decked support, the lower deck or platform being illustrated at 1 and the upper deck at 2, they being spaced apart by 'any suitable form of stanchion or uprights dem'red and it is to be understood that the entire mechanism may be housed within'a suitable case not shown and forming no part of the present invention.

Spaced slightly above the lower platform and mounted thereupon in any desired manner is a circular Atable or cup-support 3 itY being loosely carried upon the upright shaft 4, the upper end of which is journaled within the platform or deck 2. I n the table 3 are formed preferably 6 circular cup-receiving holes they being equallyspaced circumferentially adjacent the outer edge of the table and designed to progressively rege istei-with the discharge ofthe cup-container of the handle 7.

illustrated at 6 mounted uponthe -upper face of the deck 2.

This cup-container is of the common well known type which holds la plurality of stacked paper cups and readily discharges by gravity a single cup at the reciprocation An inclinedupwardly exi tending guide 8 is fixed adjacent the forward end of each hole to assist the cup in entering same and a dependingshield 9 extends unless the latter is held against such tend' ency, and the -rotating of the shaft 4 is intermittent and instep with other parts of the mechanism, to be described later.

-from the bottom of the cup-container for a Above the deck 2 is mounted in any de- ,sired manner a rectangular shaped cooling receptacle 14 1n which 1s contained a coil of tubing 15 and a rectangularly lshaped measuring cup 16 for each one of the liquid sup'- ply jarsor bottles 17 vwhich are supported in an inverted position on the platform or table 18 above the receptacle 14. These coils and measuring cups are spaced from each other within the rcceptacle`l14 to permit of cracked ice surrounding same for cooling purposes.

Each bottle 17 is connected with its respec- .tivev coill preferably by a suitable piece of rubber tubing 19 and the lower -end of each coil 15Vcomm11nicates with its respective measuring cup 16 throughf a horizontally disposed cylindrical chamber 2O said chamber jor cylinderhaving a port 21 centrally.

thereof and communicating with the interior of the measuring cup. In the top of each measuring cup is a suitable opening 22,l

in which is installed a tube 23 extending some distance within the cup and also above same. This tube isl connected by means of a flexible tube 24 to a second upright rigid tube 25 the upper end of-which is above the discharge opening of the bottles '17 so that in no eventliquid within the tubes will .rise to a'level above vthe extreme upper end of the tube 25. The tube 23 is so positioned within the opening 22 as to permit of vertical ad- 'ustment and by which the amount of liquid 1n the cup Ai7 may be measured or predetermined, as for example when the tube 23 is lowered within the cup the latter will iill with liquid to a lesser height than when the tube is raised to a higher level in the cup. By this arrangement the amount of liquid discharged at a single operation within one of the drinking cups 26 is readily predetermined. f

In the embodiment here shown I have illustrated a series of 6' measuring cups, coils and bottles, this being an appropriate number for such a machine thoughr such y number forms no part of the invention as is evident.

l/Vithin each cylinder 20 is installed a reciprocal piston 27 and rod 28 there being an expansive spiral spring 29 intermediate of the piston and outer end of the cylinder, which normally tends to keep the piston linwardly past the opening or port 21 to the drinking cup, which permits of the liquid readily flowing into the latter from its respective coil l5, the measuring cup remaining filled at all times when there is sufiicient supply of liquid except whenv the emptying process is carried on. Each cylinder 20 is provided with a discharge port or opening 30` in the lower wall thereof and which port communicates with the inwardly protruding tubular extension 31 to the end of which a exible tube 32 is attached and leads in any convenient manner tothe discharge nozzle 33 mounted upon the deck 2 and near the forward edge thereof, said nozzle being so'positioned as to conveniently discharge vinto one of'the drinking cups 26 when the latter is positioned thereunder for filling. Thus it is evident that when the piston 27 is in the position shown in Fig. `1 of the drawings the liquid lwithin the measuring cup will pass through the port 21 into the cylinder 20 thence through the port 30, the extension 31, tube 32 and nozzle 33 into the drinking cup whereas when the piston is allowed to assume its normal position between the ports 21 and 30 by the action of the spring 29 the measuring cup will again be filled by opening the communication through the port 21 and cylinder 2O with its respective coil 15.V

, Each piston rod 28 extends inwardly, they forming a battery of spacedrods infront of the reciprocal carriage 34 which is positioned transverse the machine and spans the flexible tubes, 32. Upon the carriage is mounted. a' transversely reciprocal rack y35 which has an L-snaped extension 36 upon the face thereof toward the receptacle 14 and which extension is'designed to engage any one of the piston rods 28 and force itA toward the receptacle 14 when the carriage y edge of is similarly reciprocated thus counteracting the action of the spring 29 at the opposite end of the piston rod when thus engaged.

On top of the L-shaped extension 36 is an indicator-arm' 37 which reaches upwardly and overa transversely disposed name-plate rack 35 is imparted by means of the spur gear or pinion 39 mounted upon the manually operated shaft 40 the opposite end of which extends vto a convenient position for access by the purchaser. When the carriage 34 is in its operative position as shown in Fig. 1 the gear 39 is out of engagement with theirack 35 and when said rack is withdrawn ready for a subsequent operation the gear 39 again comes into meshed relation with the rack, the forward end of the gear 39 being somewhat pointed or tapered as at 41 for-conveniently mountihg the edge of the rack as the latter is drawn toward the gear, the innermost bearing 42 of the shaft Y 40 being mounted on a telescopic standard indicated at 43 for permitting the gear 39 to raise, slightly whenl mounting the rack 35 and possibly out of mesh therewith but which will be pro erly engaged when slightly rotated in eit er direction.

A. contractile spring 44 is provided about the upright orstandard ofthe bearing 42 one end beingrattached to the upper portion of the bearing and the other to the lower, which will assist in keeping the pinion 39 properly in place within the rack 35. The opposite ends of the carriage 34 are each provided with an elongated slidable supporting member- 45 carrying a roller 46 which intermittently become engaged within the siot 47 formed in the inner face of the disks 48 which are ri idly fixed to the transverseshaft 49 journa ed upon the deck 2, and rotate vwith same. This shaft has xed upon one end thereof a worm gear 50 meshing withtlie worm 51 on the shaft 52 which transmits powerandmotion to the shaft 49 from the lectric motor 69 the connection with said motor not being material in this invention other than it provides the necessarymotion and ower for the properfunctioning of the di erent parts of the device.

Each disk 48 isprovided witlaa slot 47 as before described,v and adjacent the outer the receiving end of each slot is a guiding clip 53 attached to the circumferential edge of the disk and is provided for theV convenient'and sure entrance of the rollers 46 into said slots.

'In` the circumferential edge-0i the disk 4s nearest the Shaft 4 is a through zshaped.

slot 54 which is designed to receive the upper reduced ends of the posts 10 when the latter are held by the rotative action of the sprin 11 against the edge of said disk and this s ot is arranged in such a manner as to permit of the table 3 being rotated one step while bringing a drinking cup into position under 'the nozzle 33 just prior to the advance of the carriage 34 and prior to its opening communication with`one of the measuring cups, this occurring by the upper end of one of the posts 10 passing through the Z-shaped slot -54 the latter being Z-shaped, that is having a straight central portion to prevent the table 3 from running away.

Intermittent rotative action is imparted to the shaft 4 by means of the reciprocal arm 55 mounted upon a suitable cam 55 on the shaft 49 and carrying the dog 71 which engages the ratchet Wheel 58 securely fixed to said shaft 4 and by which it is evident that at each rotationv of the shaft 49 `the sha-ft 4 will be given one fraction of a revolution and which fraction in this case is onesixth, to correspond with the units involved in the machine. Upon the outer face ofthe disk 48 nearest the shaft 4 isfiied an annular rim 56 which has a notch formed therein as indicated at 57 said notch being abrupt at one termination and tapering gradually to the full depth of the ring at its opposite termination.

A spring controlled reciprocal rod 58 is mounted upon the deck 2 and intermittently engages the edge of the ring 56 it being held toward saidrin at all times b the action of the contractile spring or ot er suitable means indicated at 59. A fixed pin 60 operating in the slot 6l in the outerl end of the rod 58 governs the throw in either direction of the rod and the extension 62 on the outer end of the rod operates back and forth in the opening orrnotch 63 transverse the inner edge of the vertically disposed coin conveying conduit 64 which is fixed upon the deck 2 and receivesthe coin which controls the operation of the machine. This control is accomplished in the following manner; assuming that the machinery is properly set for operation the rod 58 will be in its innermost extended position within the notch 57 and not engaging any portion of the rin '56, this bringing the extension 62 upon said rod within the notch 63 and in the path of the coin 65. When this positions ing of the rod is accomplished the coin 65- wi l rest upon the extension 62 of the rod 58 which forms parts of the electric circuit that operates the motor 69 the electrical connection with the rod 58 being shown at 66. The conduit 64 is also in the electrical circuit of the motor and said circuit is normally broken or o en intermediate of the rod 58 and the con uit 64, however when a lcoin is lcircuit. p v the disks48 will commence to rotate by the action of the motor and at a suitably predetermined point in the operation of t e device the inner end of the rod 58 will contact the inclined edge of the ring 56 as the latter rotates and-which engagement will tend to force the rod 58 outwardly and close the bypass circuit 67 intermediate of the rod 58 and the electric motor by dropping of the coin, the ring terminal of said by-pass .circuit being accomplished after the coin has dropped'by a spring contact 70 continuously engaging the undermost surface of said ring.

The rotative lmotion of .the disks 48 will The instant this is accomplished thus continue until such time as the rod 58 again drops into the notch 57 past its abrupt termination when both circuits to the motor will be broken, thus stopping the mechanism, which will await the subsequent deposit of a coin, it being noted that when the rod 58 reaches its outermost termination the extension 62 will pass from beneath the coin and allow it to pass through the conduit and become deposited as compensation for the operation of the machine.

When such cycle of the device takes place the crank-arm 68 attached to the disk 48 next to the shaft 4 will properly reciprocate the handle 7 of the cup-feeding mechanism and a cup will be deposited in the table 3 'just prior to its advancement which takes place as previously described, all the other elements of the mechanism properly functioning in step as is obviously necessary for the successful working of the device.

'lhe initial operation of the device in selecting the `desired beverage is accomplished by, first pushing inwardly the shaft 40 until the gear 39 is in mesh with the rack 35, when said shaft 40 is rotated in either direction until the indicator 37 is lmoved laterally to the desired beverage as shown on the name plate'38 which will bring the L-shaped eX'- tension 36 opposite the proper rod 28 for dispensing such beverage. Then, as manual contact with the shaft 40 is released it will assume its normal retracted vlongitudinal posltion free from engagement with the rack, `when the dispensing mechanism is eration of the table 3, opposite the reduced upper end of the post 10' allowing the latter y -to pass therethrough as previously described until the succeeding post 10 strikes against the side of the disk and the table 3 stopped thereby. This will bring the cup 26y in posi-l ate of the ports 2i and 30 closing communication between said ports; Now as the disks proceed to rotate the changing position of the slots 47 will cause the rollers 46 to'move outwardly to the circumferential edges thereof and when the rollers are bearing only against such portion of the disk,v the piston rod 28, against which the L-shaped eX- tension impinges, will be extended to its farthermost open position permitting the liquid from its respective measuring cup to pass in to the drinking cup through the cylinder 20 and its connections. It is to be understood that the length of the slots 47 in relation to the circumference of the disks is such as to properly allow for all of the liquid in the measuring cup to be emptied and the notch 57 in the ring 56 is so positioned yas to receive the rod 58 and stop the operation of the motor by opening the circuit thereto as previously describedy in proper time to again receive the rollers 46in the slots 47 ready for a subsequent operation of the machine, the springs 29 back of the piston 27 operating to return the piston to its position betwee'n the ports 21 and 30 to normally maintain closed relation between said ports. v n

While I have shown a specific structure as embodying the inventionit is to be understood that various modifications "may be resorted to'without-departing from the spirit Having thus described my invention, what I claim and Adesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination a suitable support, a

cooling receptacle, a liquid supply, a measuring cup, a drinking cup, means for automatically emptying the measuring cup into cup, of means whereby the deposit of a coin will start the motor and means independent of the coin for continuing the action of the motor to cause the machine to dispense one cup of the liquid which it contains.

3. The combination with a motor driven beverage dispensing device of the character described having a plurality of beverage supplies, cooling means,i a measuring cup and a Adrinking cup, of means whereby the selection of any one of the beverages may be predetermined and means whereby the de-I posit of a coin will automatically start the machine and other means whereby to cause the continuation of such operation to dispense that beverage which was previously determined upon.

4. The combination with a liquid vending device of the character described having a plurality of liquid supply containers, a cooperative indicator and adjuster whereby the machine may be set to dispense any one of signature in the presence of two witnesses. 95

JULIUs s. SAMUEL-sou. Witnesses C. FOWLER, W. J. RYAN. 

